LOS ANGELES - Already offensively challenged, the Kings were without their leading scorer in the playoffs, Mike Richards , for Game 3 of the Western Conference finals against the Blackhawks. Richards missed his second game in a row after suffering an apparent concussion in Game 1 when he was hit by Hawks center Dave Bolland . “We definitely miss him,” Kings center Jarret Stoll said before the teams faced off Tuesday night at Staples Center. “We've got to have...

Last season, the Kings arrived at the United Center with a tailwind propelling them into the Western Conference finals against the Blackhawks after winning a grueling seven-game series against the Sharks. But beneath the appearance of a sturdy exterior, the Kings had some fractures - including some possible literal ones involving injuries - and the Blackhawks eliminated them in five games as Patrick Kane completed a hat trick in overtime of Game 5. The Hawks are expecting a more...

The Sports Xchange Kings' Richards out for Game 2 The Los Angeles Kings announced just before the start of Sunday's game against Chicago that assistant captain Mike Richards would not play in Game 2 due to an upper body injury. Richards was the Kings' leading scorer coming into the game with 10 points (two goals, eight assists). Richards received a hit from the Blackhawks Dave Bolland in the final two minutes of Game 1 on Saturday and struck his head on the boards. No penalty was called...

Sutter's line shuffle pays off as Kings blank Panthers LOS ANGELES -- In an effort to produce more offense from his team, Los Angeles Kings coach Darryl Sutter took the unusual step of placing a former all-star center on the fourth line. For at least one game, the move paid dividends and helped establish a franchise record for another all-star. Center Trevor Lewis had a goal and an assist and goaltender Jonathan Quick made 24 saves as the Los Angeles Kings defeated...

Brian Gionta scored the tying goal with 20.8 seconds remaining in regulation and had the only goal in the shootout to lead the Devils to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Saturday. New Jersey has won 10 of its last 13. Gionta, first up for the Devils in the shootout, whipped the puck past Antero Niittymaki to cap New Jersey's comeback. Simon Gagne, first for the Flyers in the shootout, fired wide and Martin Brodeur made saves on Peter Forsberg and Mike Richards. Dany Heatley scored his...

SportsDirect Inc. Recap: Kings 3, Jets 1 Kings 3, Jets 1: Mike Richards scored the go-ahead goal late in the second period as visiting Los Angeles matched a season high with its sixth consecutive victory. Captain Dustin Brown and defenseman Alec Martinez tallied for the Kings, who also won six straight from Dec. 2-14 and posted just their second triumph in seven outings against Winnipeg (2-3-2). Jonathan Quick turned aside 17 shots in the victory. Veteran Olli Jokinen scored his second goal in...

Kings 3, Hurricanes 1: Defenseman Alec Martinez scored a power-play goal midway into the third period to snap a tie and Jonathan Quick turned aside 24 shots as host Los Angeles skated to its fourth straight victory. Justin Williams collected an empty-net goal and an assist for the Kings, who completed a two-game season sweep of Carolina and have won five of the last six meetings. Mike Richards scored to end a 12-game goalless drought for Los Angeles. Defenseman Andrej Sekera netted his team's lone...

The Sports Xchange Kings acquire Carcillo from Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks traded rugged forward Daniel Carcillo to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday for a sixth-round pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. According to terms of the deal, if Carcillo plays in 40 or more games for the Kings next season, the Blackhawks would receive a fifth-round draft pick in 2015. Carcillo, 28, had two goals and an assist in 23 regular-season games and one assist in the postseason for the Stanley...

Although the Chicago Blackhawks have dropped five of their last six contests (1-2-3), they have a chance to get back on track and complete a three-game regular-season sweep on Monday, when they visit the struggling Los Angeles Kings. Brandon Saad scored his third goal in two contests in Chicago's 2-1 shootout loss to San Jose on Saturday and netted the lone tally in the team's 1-0 triumph over Los Angeles on Dec. 30. Rookie Antti Rantta turned aside 26 shots in the latter contest to register his...

Kings coach Darryl Sutter didn't want to misspeak again Saturday when it came to center Mike Richards. Before Game 2 against the Blackhawks, he said Richards would play after a suspected concussion. Only after pregame warmups, Sutter said he realized the center was unable to go. He would not reveal hours before Game 5 Saturday night at the United Center whether Richards would play, but he at least delivered somewhat positive news for Kings fans. “It's progress,” Sutter said.

SportsDirect Inc. Preview: Kings at Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets look to extend their winning streak to a franchise-record seven games when they host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. Sergei Bobrovsky has allowed nine goals to win five of the six contests since returning from a groin injury - and Columbus will be tested physically by a Kings team that lost 3-2 at Boston on Monday. "They'll play heavy and fast," Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards told the Columbus Dispatch.

The Flyers signed scoring leader Mike Richards to a 12-year contract extension Thursday. While the team didn't disclose financial terms, the Canadian Press reported the deal was for $69 million. The 22-year-old forward has a career-high 14 goals this season along with 20 assists. Sabres defenseman Teppo Numminen, 39, skated with teammates Thursday for the first time since open-heart surgery three months ago. Jarome Iginla and Kristian Huselius each had hat tricks as the Flames...

The Sports Xchange By Dennis Bernstein, The Sports Xchange Kings' rookies make mark in 5-1 win over Canucks LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings got a glimpse of their future in their first matchup with new Pacific Division rivals the Vancouver Canucks. After injuries to right wing Jeff Carter and center Jarret Stoll raised concerns about their offense, the team turned to a couple of rookies in the hopes of filling the net. Tyler Toffoli scored two goals and an...

PHILADELPHIA — Jonathan Toews skated onto the United Center ice after the Blackhawks clinched the Western Conference title and accepted the Campbell Trophy as if it was filled with toxins, pinning his left arm behind his back to avoid contact with the silver cup. When the Flyers won the Prince of Wales trophy, Mike Richards grabbed it with both hands, hoisted it in the air and proudly carried it into the Wachovia Center locker room....

Despite Bachman's heroics, Oilers fall in L.A. LOS ANGELES -- On a night when goalie Richard Bachman gave the Edmonton Oilers his best, it still wasn't good enough to be the streaking Los Angeles Kings. Anze Kopitar scored the game-winning shootout goal as the Kings edged the Oilers 2-1 Sunday night at Staples Center, Los Angeles' fourth win in five games. Bachman recorded a career-high 47 saves but lost the shootout battle with Los Angeles' Jonathan Quick as he...

Kings 3, Wild 0: Justin Williams scored a pair of goals and Jonathan Bernier made 23 saves as host Los Angeles handed Minnesota its third straight loss. Jeff Carter also tallied for the Kings, who moved one point ahead of the Wild and idle San Jose Sharks for fourth place in the Western Conference. Darcy Kuemper made 11 saves in relief for Minnesota as Niklas Backstrom was pulled after allowing goals on the first two shots he faced. The Wild relinquished first place in the Northwest Division to Vancouver,...